February 4/99 10:15 am - Tour of Langkawi Stage 2

Posted by Editor on 02/4/99

Tour of Langkawi, Malaysia

The Report

The pack of the 4th Tour de Langkawi rolled out of the town of Kangar on the Thailand border at 11h00. It was the first real road stage of this 1999 edition. For the Canadian team it was one of survival for two of our riders; Sylvain Beauchamp and Eric Wohlberg who both are suffering from a debilitating stomach flu.

Fortunately for us, the race starts getting harder only in a few days. So that will give the guys that aren't at a 100% time to get their health back. By mid race, a substantially important break was formed by 5 riders that had gained over 9 minutes on the main group. But, as it usually happens in a top seeded stage race, the break eventually got swallowed whole with 15kms to go. The stage win went to Enrico Degano from Navigare and the overall leaders jersey changed from Kristensen to Graeme Miller of New Zealand who claimed the top position thanks to his good second place sprint finish in the stage.

Canada's best result was from Michael Barry riding for Saturn. Tomorrow, the stage should prove to be a pretty nervous one because of it's shortness; and I would not count out the KOM at 15 km to go that might break the group up a bit...

Jacques LandryCanadian team manager

Stage 1b Results (Criterium)

1

Rodriguez,Fred

Mapei - Quick Step

53:50

2

Miller,Graeme

New Zealand

s.t.

3

Haselbacher,René

Team Gerolsteiner

4

Capiot,Johan

T.V.M. Farm Frites

5

Nocentini,Rinaldo

Mapei - Quick Step

6

McKenzie,David

Linda McCartney

7

Degano,Enrico

Navigare - Gaerne

8

Perras,Dominique

Canada

9

Ljungquist,Marcus

Cantina Tollo Alexia

10

Mccormack,Frank

Saturn

Barry,Michael

Saturn

Lukaszewicz,Czeslaw

Canada

Beauchamp,Sylvain

Canada

Wohlberg,Eric

Canada

Randell,Andrew

Canada

Henderson,Rodney

Canada

all s.t.

Note: We missed Michael Barry in yesterday's General Classification standings after stage 1b. Barry, riding for the Saturn squad is 30th overall, 57 seconds off the leader (Lennie Kristensen of Denmark).